Steroids

[June24]

Steroids well 23days on 1mg of steroids asked doctor for half mg he said to stay on 1mg until winter was over has anyone else been told that I so much want to be free of them

[O2Trees]

Hi June, Ive never been told that, even when getting a lot of infections and I have asthma as well as copd. Steroids only help control breathlessness - they won't stop your getting infections. But if you were getting one and were already on the steroids, then you might not get as breathless as you would have done without the 1mg pred.

I would want to know specifically what your doctor has based his reply on? Cold weather? More germy people than usual? It might depend on what your lung history has been like in previous winters. Is the doctor a new (to you) doctor or locum? They tend to be over-cautious sometimes in my experience as they aren't familiar with your history. I would go back, maybe with a telephone appointment, and ask to know exactly why s/he is saying this.

[June24 in reply to O2Trees]

He is a new doctor and his answer was to help and infection I might get thank you for your reply

[Patches2 in reply to O2Trees]

I was very interested in your reply to June24 regarding steroids helping with breathlessness. Does it not help with clearing and curing the infection? The reason I ask is that my consultant always gives me steroids as well as antibiotics and I was under the impression that the steroids helped cure the infection, otherwise I would not take them as my bones are in a dreadful condition,

[jackdup in reply to Patches2]

My understanding is that the steroids suppress the immune system which in turn reduces inflation and makes breathing easier and they generally prescribe an antibiotic at the same time to reduce the risk of infection while your immune system is suppressed from the steroid. Of course always best to confirm that with a doctor.

[Patches2 in reply to jackdup]

Many thanks Jackdup for your reply. Hope you will be finished with your steroids soon,

[June24 in reply to Patches2]

I have just been told I have type 2 diabetes since I started on the medication my breathing has got a lot better any idea's why?

[Hidden in reply to June24]

Is this any help? diabetes.co.uk/steroid-indu...

[June24 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very very much for your reply it has helped me so much and given me much needed help

[Patches2 in reply to June24]

Hi June 24.

You may be interested to know that when I stopped taking steroids(only on them for two weeks), my blood glucose returned to normal. I would like to think this would happen if I have to take steroids again. Steroids does improve your breathing while you are taking them. I wish you well.

[O2Trees in reply to Patches2]

You'd be better off asking the consultant Patches, but the main job steroids do is to reduce inflammation. So with a chest infection they reduce inflammation in the airways caused by the infection - this narrows the airways making it even more difficult to breath. But they dont kill the bacteria which caused the infection - the ABs do that. We need our airways to be enough open to be able to cough up the mucus from the infection. Does that help?

[O2Trees in reply to O2Trees]

They also reduce inflammation which people with asthma have all the time, and people with severe copd, even when they are well.

You can see from Jackdup's reply that there are different ways of thinking about this - best to ask your consultant in relation to your own needs

[Patches2 in reply to O2Trees]

Many thanks O2trees for your reply. A lot more to think about!

[Watfordgirl]

Hello June,

You posted 18 days ago and we're on 1mg then and felt awful. How are you feeling now? I agree with O2Trees and can't see why you're being kept on that dose, but I'm not your doctor.

If you're keen to come off them, it would be worth seeing or phoning your doctor and asking some more questions.

Good luck, Sue x

[June24 in reply to Watfordgirl]

Feeling not to bad but have been very depressed just feel this new doctor wasn't really interested thank you very much for your reply

[O2Trees in reply to June24]

This really doesnt sound ok June - you can always ask for a second opinion, you're entitled to that.

[June24 in reply to O2Trees]

I will thank you for your reply

[Watfordgirl in reply to June24]

That's horrid, June. It makes you wonder why you're there. Can you see someone else and ask them to explain the reasons for staying on them? x

[June24 in reply to Watfordgirl]

I live in a rural Scottish village and I'm afraid we don't get any good service in fact our village practice closes on 28 th December after that date it will be 30 mile round trip to main practice not good if you don't drive and I don't so I,ll just have to wait and see

[Watfordgirl in reply to June24]

That sounds difficult, June, and must be a worry to you. I bet you live in a beautiful place, though, and won't have air pollution to add to your lung problems!

I hope you"re feeling a bit better and not quite so depressed, and that you have a good Christmas. Sue xxx

[Hidden]

Oh dear, what a worry. What will you do if you need to see a dr? On the subject of pred, I don't understandwhat good 1mg is doing anyway? If you've been on them a long time, more than 3 months, you should have a Short Synacthen Test to check your adrenal glands are still working, before you stop them entirely.

[poppylove19]

My husband was on 1 steroid and 1 antibiotic every day for maintenance reasons

[June24 in reply to poppylove19]

I found your reply very helpful thankyou and have a good Christmas

[twopars12]

Hi June, the steroids, as far as I am aware are used to build up your muscle strength which in turn enables you to operate your lungs and thereby breath. I don't if you are able to do a little bit of exercise or not but even gentle exercise, a few steps around the garden or even try singing a the top of your voice (who cares if you might not be any good at singing), these are ways to gain a bit of strength to the muscles around your lungs and before you know it the steroids will be a memory. Take care, merry xmas.